Print Settings Intermediary for Driverless Authentication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In existing systems, user authentication through user ID and password is limited, as these settings cannot be read or used when printing from applications that do not employ a printer driver, restricting the use of print settings and authentication functionality.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that generates print data and identification information, including a device name and user name, determines if setting values are designated for print settings, reads these values from memory when not designated, and transmits print data with corresponding commands to connected devices, enabling user authentication even without a printer driver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a printer driver is used to store and read user ID and password, then user authentication is enabled and printing security is improved, but applications that do not use a printer driver cannot access these settings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the reading unit in the information processing apparatus) that mediates between the storage location of print settings and applications that don't use printer drivers. This intermediary reads the settings from storage and makes them available to diverse applications, resolving the contradiction between maintaining secure authentication and enabling broad application compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal print settings reading mechanism that serves multiple functions: it reads settings for applications using printer drivers, applications not using printer drivers, and enables user authentication across different printing scenarios. This multi-functional approach resolves the contradiction by making the authentication system adaptable to various application types.
2Ease of manufacture
If print settings are stored in a printer description file readable only by printer drivers, then settings management is simplified, but settings cannot be accessed by applications without printer drivers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the settings access function into two independent parts: the storage mechanism (printer description file) and the reading mechanism (reading unit in information processing apparatus). This segmentation allows the storage to remain simple while the reading function becomes universally accessible to different application types, resolving the contradiction between simplified management and broad accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The reading unit acts as an intermediary that bridges the printer description file storage system and applications without printer drivers. It reads settings from the file and provides them to diverse applications, maintaining the simplicity of file-based storage while enabling wide accessibility across different application architectures.
3Reliability
If user ID and password are hard-coded in printer drivers, then authentication is secure, but settings cannot be flexibly applied across different users and applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by storing user ID and password settings in advance in the printer description file before printing operations occur. This pre-storage approach maintains security through controlled access while enabling flexible retrieval and application of user-specific settings across different users and applications, resolving the contradiction between security and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where the reading unit retrieves stored user settings and applies them to printing operations. This feedback loop ensures that authenticated user information is consistently applied across different applications and printing jobs, maintaining security while enabling user-specific customization and flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes circuitry to: generate print data; generate identification information, the identification information including a device name identifying a device communicably connected to the information processing apparatus via a network and a user name identifying the logged-in user; determine whether a setting value is designated for a particular print setting; read a setting value associated with the particular print setting from a memory when a setting value is not designated for the particular print setting, the memory storing one or more print settings, a setting value for each print setting, and identification information in association; and transmit, to the device communicably connected to the information processing apparatus, the print data having a print command corresponding to the particular print setting.